Guided by ebird, we drove toward a section of road where groups of over a hundred Sage-grouse had been observed. Dom was obsessed with Sage-grouse. If we didn’t see one, he would explode.
Dom eating beans, consumed with madness: Not sure what to expect, we just drove there. We were exhausted from getting our asses kicked by those owls. At one point when I was driving, I actually fell asleep. Driving at 40 km/h and approaching a sharp bend, Dom took the wheel. I wonder why my foot stayed on the pedal.
Just as I started driving again, we saw it! An EXODUS from the sage, the road was littered with grouses!
We got out our scopes and absorbed the sounds and sights of this bizarre mating ritual. The males make these alien sounds while they fan their tails and shake their man-titties, which are actually inflatable yellow sacks of skin. They were chasing each other and trying to assault the females (sexually). But to describe this dance, my friend David will do a much better job:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KdOvNSDxws
We needed to drive through that forest again, in order to enter western Yellowstone, which is when Dom spotted the William’s Sapsucker fly across the road. We pulled over and played its call, and it came in with fury and splendor.
Then we visited the “Chinatown” of the park, the geysers. Old Faithful was not as faithful as last time I saw her, but she still exploded.
We cruised the park, making our way towards Lamar Valley. We spotted 2 Mountain Goats on the way, a mammal I’ve wanted to see SOOO bad for years.
Its 6 am. We woke up, and headed to Lamar, but stayed in our sleeping bags to conserve energy. Don't try this at home!!!
Barely had we broken from our nocturnal cuccoons when Dom epically spotted a Grizzly Bear Momma and her cub up on a hillside while I was driving! We quickly proceeded towards them to observe them more closely.
I have to comment on all this...
ReplyDeleteF'IN EPIC DUDES!!!!!!!!!